Maria Sharapova: 'I always believe in myself'

Maria Sharapova has insisted that her self-belief never wavers, after recovering from a shaky start to beat Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania in straight sets.

The 28-year-old lost her opening service game on Centre Court, but fought back to seal a 6-4 6-3 win.

"I made it more difficult for myself in the first set but I felt good in the second set. She was not going to go away so I was happy I was able to finish it off," Sharapova told BBC Sport after the match.

"You expect to go further and on to better things. As the matches get tougher, you have to raise your game and that's why there's only one champion.

"You have to have the belief and I absolutely do. You don't work all these hours in practice to not believe in yourself. I want to be the winner and I will do my best to do so."

The 2004 champion will now face Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan in the fourth round.